Juventus coach Max Allegri has confirmed that the club intend to fine Douglas Costa for spitting on a Sassuolo during Sunday’s Serie A game between the two sides.

Costa was sent off in stoppage time for gobbing on forward Federico di Francesco, but only after the Brazilian winger had jutted an elbow and aimed a headbutt at his opponent…

Speaking after the final whistle, Allegri told reporters that he has every intention of punishing Costa for his gross reaction:

Even if [Costa] was fouled, these episodes must not happen. We must not fall for provocation.

The game was winding down, we had it in the bag and, instead, we stopped playing as a team, everyone wanted to dribble a bit.

Then the other team gets back into the game, some players get irritated and that sort of thing happens.

It’s only right that [Costa] is fined, and he certainly will be. I was surprised by his reaction. We have suffered a goal, a red card and a suspension which will be long.

Costa apologised for his misconduct on Instagram after the match, but the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) are unlikely to take much heed, with FIGC official Giuesppe Pecoraro announcing that his discplinary team will be taking a close look at the entire sequence of events, from the elbow onwards.

Violent conduct charges can carry with them suspensions of up to 10 matches in Italy, with spitting also defined as and act of such.

As for the match itself, Juventus survived a late Sassuolo consolation goal and Costa’s dismissal to eventually secure a 2-1 win, courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s first two goals for the Bianconeri.